"Long time no see." Archer Rhys smiled and took another step forward.

The bouquet of roses in his arms was so large and full that it was the only thing separating them.

Grace Winslow smiled back. "Long time no see."

"I thought you wouldn’t come back."

Archer chuckled softly. "You said you didn’t want to be in a relationship before you graduated. I know my career is unique, that I’d always be putting myself in danger. So, I worked hard for two years and finally managed to get a transfer back here. I won’t have to go on risky missions anymore. I can spend more time with you, and I won’t leave you behind. So, Grace Winslow, are you willing to give me a chance?"

"I sincerely want to be with you, with marriage in mind."

Grace felt her eyes sting.

This man never made any grand promises, but his actions spoke volumes.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and reached out her hand to Archer. "Archer Rhys, I’m willing to be with you."

"With marriage in mind."

Archer’s eyes reddened. He stared at her for a long, long time before suddenly dropping the roses in his arms, taking two steps forward, and pulling Grace into his embrace.

The roses hit the ground, their petals scattering everywhere, but no one paid them any mind.

Grace hesitated for a moment before raising her arms to hug Archer back.

Archer buried his face in her hair. "Am I dreaming?"

"You’re not dreaming, Archer. It’s not that I have no feelings for you. I like you. Maybe I’ve liked you for many years, but you left back then, so I just focused on my studies to try and forget you."

"I can’t accept someone who leaves without a word. But I know you had your reasons, reasons that kept you from even saying goodbye before you vanished from my world."

"I may not be a very brave person. Because of what happened with Caleb Forrest, I’ve always been hesitant to accept a new relationship, to start a new adventure."

"But if that person is you, I think I’m willing to try."

"Thank you for showing up today. Thank you for telling me how you feel." Grace wrapped her arms around Archer’s waist, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. But to Archer’s ears, it was like a sudden clap of thunder.

He was ecstatic. "You... What did you just say?"

Grace blushed. She had just barely summoned the courage to say those words. She wasn’t shameless enough to repeat them now.

So she reached out and covered Archer’s eyes. "Nothing. Don’t ask."

"Let go, a lot of people are watching."

It was graduation season, so the campus was bustling with people—parents and visitors from all walks of life.

Many people were confessing their feelings, hugging, crying, and freely venting their tears and joy.

Some people had also noticed what was happening with Grace.

This was mainly because Grace was quite the celebrity on campus. Whether it was for her early side-hustle as a purchasing agent or her excellent grades, she was always winning scholarships and being featured on the school’s bulletin boards.

Quite a few people had a crush on her and were planning to confess today. They never expected their secret love to end before it even began.

Seeing Archer standing next to Grace, many of them lost the nerve to confess altogether.

Dylan Lockwood arrived with his secretary.

He had to ask around before finding out that Grace and her class were taking graduation photos here.

He had prepared a gift to celebrate Grace’s graduation and brought flowers, ready to confess his feelings.

But he was a step too late. By the time he arrived, Grace and Archer were already walking toward him, hand in hand.

Grace was a little startled to see Dylan Lockwood. "Mr. Lockwood, what are you doing at the school?"

"Grace, I came to see you. Congratulations on your graduation. This is a gift for you." Dylan Lockwood stepped forward with gentlemanly grace and presented the gift he had prepared.

Grace took one look at it and immediately tried to hand it back. "No, I can’t accept this. This gift is far too expensive."

"It’s not expensive. The financial benefits you’ve brought me are enough to buy hundreds of necklaces like this. It’s a token of my appreciation. If you refuse it, I’ll lose a lot of face. Just accept it. It’s nothing that valuable."

For Dylan Lockwood, a necklace worth tens of thousands really was nothing.

Working with Grace, he could earn ten times that amount in profit in a single month.

Grace was practically his cash cow.

He had originally hoped to marry his cash cow and have her at home to look at every day, but it seemed he just wasn’t that lucky.

He shot a hostile glance at Archer, who was standing beside Grace. "And where does this gentleman hold a prestigious position?"

Archer put an arm around Grace, his tone light. "Nowhere prestigious at the moment. I’m planning on staying home and letting my wife support me."

Grace’s mouth twitched. She was speechless.

’Why does that sound so strange?’

She never knew Archer had this kind of humor.

She shot Archer a look.

But Archer just smiled back at her. To any onlookers, it was clear they were flirting.

Dylan Lockwood clenched his fists. "Is that so? How fortunate for you, getting to live off a woman."

"I’ve had a weak stomach since I was a kid. The doctor always said I was suited for a ’soft’ diet myself. It’s a pity the girl I like was snatched up by someone else. Looks like I’ll never get to live that easy life she could have provided."

Grace was speechless. ’Why are these two talking so strangely? Is it just my imagination?’

She glanced from Dylan Lockwood to Archer Rhys.

Both men had smiles on their faces, and they looked like they were getting along quite well.

"Grace, Grace, hurry up! It’s time for photos—!"

Just as Grace was about to speak, her classmates started calling for her.

Grace quickly pulled her hand away from Archer’s. "I’m going to take pictures first. See you in a bit."

With that, she scurried off.

Archer’s gaze followed her figure.

Dylan Lockwood walked up beside him, his eyes also following Grace.

Watching her laugh and pose for photos with her classmates, her smile bright and radiant, he finally spoke up to warn Archer. "Grace is a wonderful girl. If you don’t cherish her, if you break her heart, I won’t let you get away with it."

"You don’t need to trouble yourself, Mr. Lockwood. She’s my woman. I’ll protect her myself. I definitely won’t let her get hurt or sad."

"If you have the time, Mr. Lockwood, you should probably worry about yourself. The things you’ve done... maybe no one is looking into them now, but sooner or later, there will be consequences." Archer didn’t look at Dylan, but his words were anything but polite.

Dylan glanced at him and gave a slight, tight-lipped smile. "Is that so? I’ll remember your advice. Be good to her."

"Naturally."

When Grace returned from taking photos, Dylan Lockwood was already gone. She looked left and right, and seeing no sign of him, she whispered to Archer, "You two didn’t get into a fight just now, did you?"

"Of course not. We’re both civilized people. Why would we fight?" Archer smiled and pulled Grace into his arms. ’I’m the victor. Why would a victor get into a scuffle with the loser?’

’I would never give him a chance to play the victim and gain sympathy.’